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Jan 18, 2008Pacific Oasis, Santa Barbara, Pinot Noir, 2005
Spicey dried cherries and faint funkness of leather. Forest floor and all that B.S., it's hard to describe but the nose is definitely pinot. Clean and for the money and a winner. Some 5-spice -- watery but, still some soft tannins and nice balance. Notes of black licorice on the finish. Probably the best pinot i've had for $12.99.
Jan 15, 2008Huntington Cabernet Sauvignon, 2006
Decanted for an hour. Bright Blackberry and plum nose. Smooth, sweet and spicy with a mellow but nice mouthfeel. Great young Cab. especially for the price. Perfect everyday Cab.
Jan 15, 2008Rancho Sisquoc Reserve Merlot, 2005
Sweet oak and ripe cherries and blueberries on the nose. Some cinnamon as well. Rich on the palate, but balanced w/ some nice chalky tannins -- very chocolatey. A solid wine, finishes nicely w/ some tartness and spice.
I don't know why people rant on merlot so badly, this was a beautiful wine at the right price.
Not sure if this was the reserve or not, the label was black which for Rancho Sisquoc usually means reserve i think ... ??? But it didn't say reserve on the bottle.
Jan 15, 2008Bv Coastal Pinot Noir, 2006
Flavored Water at its finest. Drinkable cheap PInot but thats about it. Trys to develop a little mouthfeel but cant quite make it.
Jan 14, 2008Cosentino M. Coz Meritage, 1999
What a steal! On the nose I sensed notes of ripe cherry, leading to cherry cola, with a hint of chocolate. This wine had a multi-dimensional, well-structured palate that was dry with medium to heavy tannins with great balance. The finish brought a good amount of spice with some lingering stickiness. Overall a great example of a CA Bordeaux blend.
Jan 12, 2008Vina Quintay Sauvignon Blanc Clava Classic, Casablanca Valley, Chile, 2006
Lime lime lime. Not just the acid and citrus flavors, but i swear the skin too. Pair it with a burrito and a margarita, and you could be a happy camper.
Jan 12, 2008Aresti Estate Selection Pinot Noir, 2006
Cherry tobacco and some unidentified funk on the nose. Very potent for a pinot, bold and spicy. Reminiscent of a merlot or heavier wine on the finish -- there's even some palatable tannins in this.
Only prob is that it isn't very characterstic of a pinot -- but still nice wine.
Jan 11, 2008Rioja Vega, 2006
Subtle fruit with hints of earthy spice. Rather simple Spanish Rioja. NIce for the buck
Jan 11, 2008Cosentino M. Coz Meritage, 1999
I found this bad boy in a longs drug store in S.D. half off on a clearance rack. Nose had ripe cherry and light Cocoa notes. Mouthfeel was nice. Ripe Blackberry, tobacco, and spicy leather. Finished big and rich. Tannins hit a bit hard but I really liked it. Nice find!!!
Jan 10, 2008Manzanita Creek Old Vine Zinfandel, Alfonso Vineyard, 2004
I got this in my fall wine club shipment, and was excited to try a new zin from my favorite Dry Creek winery.
Rich, blackberry pie, spiced raisins with a chocolate finish and some notes of figs hiding behind the slightly over the top alcohol. This is NOT a wine for the faint hearted, but on a cold rainy day when you want a big red wine and a blankey in front of the fire and don't want a cab, this will do the trick.
Jan 09, 2008Hogue Cellars Fume Blanc, 2006
An intense nose of citrus, grass, and some tropical notes. Taste is a little acidic, and also has a good deal of citrus flavors (mainly lemon).
There is a slight bite at the end, and an overall lively sauv blanc. A decent wine for the price (BevMo 5 cent sale, 2 for $10.04), would probably pair well with food, such as a jerk chicken dish.
Jan 09, 2008Bishop's Peak Cabernet Sauvignon, 2005
A very nice and delicate cab at this price point. I get some dark ripe fruits, some cigar box, and subtle spice.
Well balanced and velvety on the palate. Not your over-the-top sticky cab, and some might say it's a bit thin.
I actually ended up getting this bottle for $5.99, as it was mis-marked at the grocery store. I didn't realize until I opened it and was like, wow, this was $5.99? Then I looked at my receipt and it read $12.99. The store offered a refund because it was their mistake. I think it's a great deal at either price.
Jan 09, 2008Rombauer Chardonnay, 2006
After so many rave reviews I had to try this wine. This is indeed a fine chardonnay with delicious flavors of sweet apple, crème sucrée and healthy oakiness. The nose is also very pleasant and inviting with aromas of caramel and freshly baked apple pie. I think what makes this wine great is its ability to exhibit the characteristic of a heavy, creamy chard in a surprisingly subtle way.
Jan 09, 2008Rombauer Chardonnay, 2003
My favorite Napa Chard. For those who love creamy, buttery chardonnay, this is for you. Very big, excellent chard. Price point makes this a "special occasion" wine, but definitely worth it.
Jan 09, 2008Conundrum, 2006
Light vanilla and citrus bouquet. Tastes of juicy apples and pears. Delicious wine, but a little expensive.
Jan 08, 2008Veramonte Sauvignon Blanc Reserva, 2007
Probably the most intense sauv blanc I've ever tasted. I just noticed even the bottle says so, here's the first sentence: "Fresh, crisp and intense."
The nose contains some grass and floral notes, along with strong citrus aromas. Then it hits your palate like someone threw a lime at your mouth. There's so much tart acidity that it triggers those glands at the back of your jaw under your ears.
It might be a little rough on the edges because of it's young age (2007). It should also definitely be paired with some type of food. Regardless, I think you're going to need to be a sauv blanc lover to appreciate this wine.
Dec 25, 2007Del Dotto Vineyards Sangiovese Napa Valley, 2005
Big fan of this winery but this one wasnt what i expected. A little thin with a big cherry hit and light pepper. Finish is comes around and gives you a little more depth.
Dec 24, 2007Trivento Select Malbec, 2004
Something funky on the nose, not particularly inviting. Tart on the palate, red raspberries, some spice, and a mineral nature to it. A bit thin and one dimensional, nothing really impressive here.
Dec 24, 2007Trumpeter Malbec Syrah, 2004
What you'd expect out of a malbec-syrah blend ... A rich inviting nose of ripe fruits, red brick, and other earthy notes. There was an initial tartness on the palate the opened up quickly with a little airtime, and a bit wet. Nice black pepper spice as the finish begins, moving into ripe cherry notes. An overall soft, enjoyable wine for the price.
Dec 24, 2007Black Bart Syrah Stagecoach Vineyard, 2003
2003 Black Bart Syrah, Stagecoach Vineyard Napa Valley
I've tasted this wine is a professional setting many times, however last Friday we enjoyed it at our company Christmas Party from a 3 liter Bottle.
Given a few hours to unwind this wine is simply marvelous!
Deep, dark, inky and purple in hue with aromas of milk chocolate intermixed with bramble fruits, cassis liqueur, exotic spices and spring flowers. Very full-bodied without being heavy or over-saturated (the way many Syrahs can be), with great persistence and balance, beautiful acidity, and a layer of fine, silky tannins that coate the tongue completely in creamy complex chocolaty notes, before culminating in a persistent, yet remarkably fresh finish. Absolutely gorgeous juice on par with the best from anywhere, any varietal. Wonderful with a pan-seared steak smothered in shallot butter.
Dec 19, 2007Sagelands Cabernet Sauvignon Columbia Valley, 2005
Lots of rich dark fruit and light spice make this go down easy.
I found fig, plums, and other dark fruit with a touch tobacco on the finish.
Full and round without being overpowering in a cult cab sort of way.
This could easily be a $20 cab, so for the price, this is excellent.
Dec 18, 2007Ruffino Chianti, 2004
I had expected a lot of this chianti based on what I heard from others, but found myself disappointed with this mid-priced wine. The flavour is similar to most cabernet sauvignons. There is certainly a flavour of cedar and blackcurrant, the former imparting a mild spiciness. It is fairly dry. Pretty alright for the price, but I'd rather check out some other of Italy's wine before picking up another bottle.
Dec 18, 2007Black Swan Shiraz Australia, 2005
To start off, this wine is awfully sweet with a very intense fruity flavor. Some apple, balckberry, and vanilla hints with a grape taste similar to that of Concord grape wines. I wasn't much of a fan and it mixed disharmoniously with my family's recipe of meatball and cheese soup.
Dec 18, 2007Vila Regia Douro Tinto, 2004
This portuguese wine is surprisingly excellent for the price -- lusciously smooth taste that would go well even with lighter meats or by itself. It is mellow and mildy sweet, not all that dry, comparable to a good merlot. I very much enjoyed this and purchased another bottle today.
Dec 18, 2007Concha Y Toro Cabernet Sauvignon Frontera, 2005
I got the box, as I drink wine every night and the boxes tend to maintain flavour longer and are cheaper. The scent is very sharp, and not very far behind the flavor. There is a spicy aftertaste that lingers a while. It tastes and smells very mildly of acetic acid (vinegar), and is very dry, just barely sweet.
